panicked

UK: ˈpænɪkt | US: ˈpænɪkt

Definition

  1. adj. feeling or showing sudden, overwhelming fear

  2. v. (past tense of panic) to suddenly feel or cause overwhelming fear

Structure
panic <sudden fear>ed <past tense suffix>
Etymology

The root panic originates from the Greek panikos, meaning "pertaining to Pan," the god of wild places who was believed to cause groundless fear in humans. The suffix -ed marks the past tense or adjective form in English. Over time, panic evolved to describe sudden terror, and panicked specifically denotes the state or action of experiencing such fear.

Examples

  1. She panicked when she realized her passport was missing.

  2. The crowd grew panicked as the fire spread.

  3. His panicked voice revealed his distress.

  4. Investors panicked after the stock market crash.

  5. The panicked deer fled from the approaching headlights.